When Furry Friends Travel

Missing your best friend back home? No worries. Cuddly canines (and felines!) are the most revered residents at these beloved hotels and resorts.

By Alexandra Cheney, Departures

PARIS, FRANCE

Le Bristol Paris

resident pet: Fa-Raon

Although eight-year-old Fa-Raon has free reign over the seven floors of Le Bristol, he spends nights in his own on-site apartment decorated by graffiti artist Renk. A Burmese cat, Fa-Raon’s gentle nature and sociable personality attract admirers of all ages. Lounge alongside him with afternoon tea or a book in Le Jardin Français, the hotel’s interior sculpture garden and his favorite outdoor spot. Inside, the blue-eyed creature often guides guests up the spiral staircase to the rooftop swimming pool, which was designed to feel like the prow of a sailboat (and the brainchild of professor Cesar Pinnau, architect of several Onassis family yachts).

BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY

Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Oetker Collection

resident pet: Kléopatre

Fa-Raon’s former partner, Kléopatre, left Paris for Baden-Baden and the 104-guestroom Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, perhaps to lead a more healthful, rural life. Soak in the warmth of the open fire in the foyer or tuck into one of the velvet crimson chairs in reception alongside the hotel’s affable four-year-old Burmese cat. Quite at home in the 147-year-old property, almond-hued Kléopatre wanders throughout the entirety of Brenners, happily checking in on guests and staff in equal measure.

AVON, COLORADO

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

resident pets: Bachelor and Scout

A three-year-old Saint Bernard and a two-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, respectively, Bachelor and Scout maintain official duties such as daily meet-and-greets, but reap the rewards of weekly baths and plenty of guest-offered cuddles. Living on the mountainside terrace, this duo of pups has been known to tote hot chocolate in a small barrel collar for guests to enjoy and will never pass up the opportunity to schedule a playdate with visiting canines. Silly, spunky, and full of energy, Bachelor and Scout habitually join naturalist-guided wildflower hikes in the summer and snowshoe tours in the winter.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills

resident pets: Winston and Churchill

English bulldogs in the shape of sconces and statues have graced the London West Hollywood hotel since its Los Angeles arrival nearly a decade ago. As the official mascot of the 226-all-suite-hotel, adding a pair of real English bulldogs seemed only fitting. Year-and-a-half old brothers Winston and Churchill were named after the beloved British Prime Minister, though they are reliably goofier and still fully enjoying their puppy years. The black-and-white furry pups have twice-daily meet-and-greets but prefer to take in the sun at the rooftop pool, which was part of the hotel’s recent $11 million renovation. The rooftop area pays homage to the four-legged residents via a giant mixed-material art installation.

The rooftop area pays homage to the four-legged residents via a giant mixed-material art installation.

HOOK, ENGLAND

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

resident pet: Oliver Beckington

Named for two bishops who previously lived on the 500-acre, 18th-century estate-turned-hotel, Oliver Beckington holds the current title of Lord of the Manor. An eight-year-old mellow Black Labrador retriever who prefers to be addressed by his full name, Oliver Beckington openly roams around the historic property, accompanying guests on countryside strolls or fireside snuggles in the drawing room. Although not a swimmer himself, Oliver Beckington will show young visitors the way to Sharkie’s Reef, the hotel’s newly opened children’s adventure pool.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Mandarin Oriental, Boston

resident pets: Bonnie and Tara

Well acquainted with the stunning black-and-white photographs adorning the lobby staircase, as well as the impressive glass chandeliers in the Oriental Ballroom, Bonnie and Tara find themselves most often lingering at the concierge desk, where treats are stored and maximum attention is guaranteed. A couple of golden retrievers, Bonnie, 10, and Tara, 9, serve as the hotel’s ambassadors of pet relations. While their human counterparts can enjoy the newly launched jazz brunch at Bar Boulud, all dogs can indulge in the restaurant’s canine café menu.